I'm 25 and I ride a 2012 T100 in C&C. This is my 1st year riding and my 2nd bike. I had a Kawasaki Concours, sure the full fairing, windshield, plenty of luggage were good and the 1000cc engine had a fair bit of pep but it just didn't do it for me. Once I saw a new Bonneville I knew it was the bike for me

I've always been a retro kind of guy but whenever my friends and I go for a ride I've always got the biggest grin from ear to ear of the bunch They still ask why I'm like that, I tell them it's all because of the Bonneville.

I am 63. I ride a Thunderbird Sport, Rocket 3, and a Scrambler. I would have more but I can't afford another divorce. Arthritis and other assorted old age fun things are starting to take its toll, but damn I still enjoy every time I pull out of the driveway.

I am now 47 and have owned the 09 Bonneville about 1 week. I have a story to tell on owning a bike in general.

As a teenager and working I remember telling my mom and dad that I was going to buy a motorcycle. The reaction? "Not while your living in this house". Ok, well once I get out on my own i'll buy a bike then! Moved out on my own at 19, didn't have enough money for a bike now, but man I loved the Honda Interceptor a guy I worked with owned (1984ish?)!! Got married at 21, wife threatened to leave me if I bought a bike. Age 26 I was divorced, so now I can get a bike right?? Nope, now i'm really broke!! Get remarried at 29, this wife is scared of bikes, plus I have 2 kids from previous marriage and then 2 more with my current wife. So life just goes by and I just kind of accept the fact I will likely never own a bike.

Fast forward finally to my father passing away 4 years ago (cancer), brother-in-law 3 years ago (blood clot to heart after a minor surgery) and a friend 2 years ago (blood clot to heart after knee replacement surgery). None of these really great people had ever done a risky activity in their life. So I start getting the desire to buy a bike, but figure I shouldn't get a sport bike, like I really wanted most of my life. I had developed a love for the Bonneville over the years. It just seemed to embody what I wanted in a bike and I like the heritage as well. So I actually find an America that I decide I am going to buy. I announce to my wife that i'm GOING to buy the bike. My wife is far from a sissy girl, but for one of the few times in our then 16 year marriage she cries. I once again relent and don't buy the bike. Finally in August 2011 I just can't stand it much longer, so I start looking again and during a craigslist search I come across an Boardwalk Blue 08 Victory Hammer for cheaper than it should be. More bike than I originally wanted, but damn it's sexy!! The pictures in the ad were horrible and I really thought that it would be that nice and I wouldn't buy it. The guy backs it out of the garage and without driving it I offer $300 less than his asking price which he quickly accepts. I tell him that I haven't made my wife really mad in awhile, so i'll take it!! This time I stick to my guns and get the bike. I still love the bike, but I hadn't given up on the Triumph idea! Well finally a few weeks ago the 09 Bonneville I now own came up and it needed a lot of work, but for $1900 I couldn't say no!! Here is the link to that whole story. http://www.triumphrat.net/twins-talk...sues-help.html

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